The U.S. financial overhaul bill signed last Friday by House and Senate negotiators, has a provision that would highlight the use of “conflict minerals” by makers of computers, cell phones and other electronics.
The Dodd-Frank bill will require companies to disclose to the Securities and Exchange Commission the nature and origin of some of the materials they use in creating their products. These minerals are used much in the same way “blood diamonds” were, by strong men and rebels to finance brutal wars and massacres.
Minerals affected by the bill include the following.
+ Tantalum: stores electricity in cell phones
+ Tungsten: creations vibrations in phones
+ Tin: circuit boards
+ Gold: used to coat wiring
Of the countries involved in the sale of conflict materials, none has been so woefully affected as Congo, according to the anti-genocide groupEnough. 5.4 million deaths, countless rapes and mutilations have been fueled by the country’s mineral resources over the past decade and a half. The groups fighting each other, primarily in the eastern part of the country, make $180 million off the four minerals listed above.
Instead of fighting against this legislation, any of the major computer or cell phone manufacturers could come out for it. This would have few negatives in exchange for some titanic PR. Oh, and maybe fewer people would die too.
We have a request for comments in to Steve Jobs. We will let you know if he responds.
Photos from the Grassroots Reconciliation Group, devoted to helping ex-child soldiers.
